Metro Detroiters Dig Out After Biggest Snowfall Since 1974
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - The rumble of plows and roar of blowers shook many neighborhoods in communities across Michigan's Lower Peninsula Monday as road crews and homeowners worked to dig out from 1 and-a-half feet of snow and the Detroit area's biggest snowfall in four decades.
A slow-moving winter storm spanned about 24 hours after moving into southeast Michigan early Sunday morning. Coming with it were wind gusts that covered sidewalks, streets, roads and freeways with the quickly accumulating snow.
Dozens of communities declared snow emergencies.
The National Weather Service reported that 16.7 inches fell at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus, marking the area's most snow since a 19.3-inch dump in December 1974 — and the third biggest snowfall on record. Shelby Township got 15.5 inches and Algonac got 14.
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The Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas were among the hardest hit, with totals ranging from about 12 to 18.5 inches. A report of 20 inches was listed for Kalamazoo.
Ann Arbor got 14.1 inches of snow, while the Grand Rapids and Lansing areas had reports of 9 to 12 inches.
Students at hundreds of Michigan schools got three-day weekends. Morning shifts at some auto plants also were canceled, partly due to dangerous driving conditions. Police said freeway off-ramps were especially problematic.
At least 15 vehicles were involved in a crash Monday morning along a stretch of U.S. 131 in Grand Rapids. One person was injured.
Three men who went snowmobiling during the storm also died in separate crashes. One man struck a tree in Clare County. Another struck a gate in Oakland County, while the third was hit by a pickup truck in Berrien County.
First shifts at all area Fiat Chrysler assembly plants were down due to high absenteeism. Ford Motor Co.'s Dearborn Truck, Michigan Assembly and Romeo Engine plants also were closed. General Motors canceled first shifts at its assembly plants in Lansing, Delta Township and Orion and its Toledo transmission plant.
Many state and local government offices closed for the day, including the state Legislature and the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals also closed offices.
Detroit suspended trash collection.
Flight delays and cancellations were reported in Detroit, Grand Rapids and Flint.
In Monroe County, a low-level travel advisory went into effect at 2 p.m. The Monroe County Road Commission said roads were snow and/or ice-covered and people should only travel if necessary for work, medical needs or other similar issues. Vehicles left on or near the road may be towed until further notice, officials said.
On Sunday, a Monroe County Road Commission truck went into a ditch but no one was hurt.
The weather prompted officials to postpone plans to give away jugs of water to Flint residents wary of what's coming through their taps as the city transitions to a new municipal water system. The event was rescheduled for Tuesday.
Monday's school closings included most districts in the Detroit area, including Detroit Public Schools. Closings also were reported in the Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Muskegon areas, among others. A number of colleges and universities also closed, including the University of Michigan.
Michigan State University suspended classes until noon at its East Lansing campus.
Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw told WWJ Newsradio 950 it's been a rough ride because of all the snow on the roads —but they're haven't been as many crashes as one might think.
"Although it did pick up on the amount of vehicles that we found, maybe stuck on the shoulder, stuck on ramps; maybe had lost control and ended up in the ditch," Shaw said. "So, we did a lot more...instead of crashes — we did a lot more vehicles assists, I guess you would call it."
Shaw said such a large amount of snow tends to keep people indoors and off the roads. He says most snow related accidents occur in three-inches or less, because drivers remain over-confident in their ability to drive through it.
For those who are headed out, Shaw suggested bringing an emergency kit in the car.
"Some water, some food, some blankets, a fully charged cell phone," Shaw said. "Make sure you have a full talk of gas in case something does happen to you — you end up in the ditch and it takes a little bit for us to get to you."
Freeways and main streets in the Detroit area were mostly plowed by mid-afternoon as many county and municipal crews worked through the storm to keep them clear. However, side streets connecting to more heavily traveled roads were slushy and tough to navigate.
For those waiting for their neighborhoods to be plowed, the availability of estimates and information varied wildly across the region.
In Royal Oak, one resident was told the some of the side streets would likely not be plowed until Tuesday. A person answering the phone for the city of Warren said the plowing schedule would be based on trash pick up — so those whose garbage is collected on Tuesday are likely in luck. In Troy, the city has been updating a snow removal map, HERE.
Road crews were working around the clock in Macomb County to clear the more than a foot of snow off neighborhood streets.
"With this much snow it takes some time to move it, and then we're not hauling it out, so you have to push it off and stockpile it," said Leo Ciavetta, with the Macomb County Department of Roads
He said most major thoroughfares are in good shape, and salt has been laid. Though blowing snow continues to be an issue throughout the area.
"I would just say, by tomorrow (Tuesday) morning or tomorrow afternoon we should be, hopefully, 25 to possibly to possibly 45 to 50 or 60 percent done," Ciavetta said.
For the latest from the roads, stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 during Traffic and Weather on the 8s, 24-hours a day. Check live, local radar and the extended forecast HERE.
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